Everything You Need To Know To Start (And Maintain) A Lasagna Garden

Here's everything you need to know to get started with the technique.

And not only is lasagna gardening a simple, beginner-friendly way to garden, but it's also an easy way to compost in your own backyard, Melrose and Normandeau explain.

The layers also lock in nutrients throughout the season and can keep weeds at bay (without the need for chemicals), notes Angelo Randaci, Earth's Ally master gardener and horticulture expert at Sarasota Green Group.

In addition to being a chemical-free gardening method, since lasagna gardening uses waste materials, it also reduces the amount of trash you're sending to the landfill or recycler.

"One of the important layers of lasagna gardening involves the use of cardboard or newspaper. The other layers include organic wastes such as trimmings from plants that you have pruned, twigs, and dried leaves—all wastes that should be going into a composter, anyway," they tell mbg.

While you can choose to plant your new bed shortly after it is made, Melrose and Normandeau tell mbg most gardeners wait a few months before planting in order to give the materials time to properly decompose.

If you dream of a large garden filled with various vegetables and plants, lasagna gardening might not be the technique for you, as it would require a huge amount of materials to get it going. For small gardens, however, Melrose and Normandeau say it can be "an excellent choice."

Some paper products contain harmful dyes and petroleum that can leak into your soil and contaminate your garden, Randaci warns, so you want to avoid things like newspapers with colored ink.

Aside from being stellarly low-maintenance, lasagna gardening also doesn't require a bunch of moving pieces to get set up. Here is a list of tools you'll need (plus, a few that would be nice to have) and a step-by-step guide for getting started.

According to Randaci, the site of your lasagna bed should be level, receive at least six hours of direct sun every day, and have a water source nearby. From there, you should remove any stones and fill holes. While you can add a barrier to hold your layers in place (think stones, timbers, etc.) or raise the bed, it's not necessary. 

There are two types of layers to collect materials for: nitrogen layers, which are made up of green materials, and carbon layers, made up of brown materials. Here's what goes in each:

The first layer in your lasagna garden will be a carbon layer. Lay your cardboard and/or newspaper down so it completely covers the ground, Melrose and Normandeau instruct. Then, water the layer so that it is thoroughly soaked.

Next, pile on an assortment of 4 to 5 inches' worth of small twigs and branches. You can also include plant trimmings if you have recently pruned the perennials in your garden, Melrose and Normandeau tell mbg. Water this layer.

Watering is crucial, as the moisture is what's going to help your layers decompose properly and efficiently, Melrose and Normandeau explain.

Check in every so often to see how it's progressing. As the materials of your bed start to break down, you can add more layers if you'd like. Just remember to water those dry materials.

"When the soil is loose and crumbles in your hand," you're ready to plant, Randaci says. This can take anywhere from six to 12 months, so it's best to start the process in the fall if you're hoping to plant by summer.

This includes going to your local park to collect fallen leaves, asking local retailers if they have any unwanted cardboard they're willing to part with, reaching out to local restaurants for organic waste at the end of the day, and even contacting local cafes for coffee-ground waste.

Alves tells mbg that wetting your lasagna garden with beer can help keep the pile moist and nitrogenous. Plus, he says, the beer "helps bacteria break down organic matter faster," meaning it'll be ready for planting sooner.

"A leaf shredder or lawn mower can be used to cut up your leaves," he adds. 

According to a handful of gardening experts who spoke to mbg, autumn is considered the best time of year to create your lasagna garden. "It will then have all winter to break down, leading to nutrient-rich and fluffy soil in the spring, when you can start planting," says Clive Harris, creator of DIY Garden.

Because the soil created in a lasagna garden is very nutrient-rich, Harris tells mbg it can be used to plant "virtually anything" from vegetables to fruits, herbs, and flowers.

After the initial layering, lasagna gardening is very low maintenance, making it great for beginners. However, because it is a slow process, Harris says having a little patience is helpful.

"The reason I recommend using cardboard or newspaper as the bottom layer is to protect your pile against weeds," Harris says, but the good news is, lasagna gardens generally have far fewer weeds than traditional flower beds, anyway. "In fact, lasagna gardens are often used as a method of planting for weed control," Harris adds. "Adding mulch to the top layer will also deter weeds."

"If you want to plant in your lasagna garden straight away, you'll need to add topsoil or peat in between the layers, then add a few inches of gardening soil to the top." However, the soil won't be quite so rich if you take this route.

"I [also] recommend spreading cayenne pepper and cinnamon onto your lasagna garden every once in a while," Harris tells mbg. "This will deter rats and mice, as well as prevent fungal disease."

If you're interested in flexing your green thumb, lasagna gardening is an excellent and eco-friendly technique for beginner gardeners to get their hands dirty (pun intended). But if it's just the composting element you're after, check out this guide to composting for beginners.